Overnight stay within the monastery grounds is possible for interested persons who want personal retreat or to attend a monastery event or conference. Minimum duration of stay is 2 nights.
Retreat Styles
- Undirected – manage your own retreat focus
- Directed – guided by a member of the monastic community (by prior arrangement)
The degree of solitude and non-speaking during retreat is your choice.
Sharing in Monastic Community
Some retreatants want to share in the life of the monastic community. This can involve participation in:
- Holy Communion
- Chanting the hours of the Divine Office, reading, prayer and study;
- Manual work in the care of the various elements within the monastery grounds; and
- Stability in the monastery with restricted off-campus activities such as site-seeing and so forth.
Retreat Durations
Retreats are for 2 nights, 3 to 6 nights, a week or longer by arrangement.
Retreat Facilities
SEASEM has provision for 4 levels of accommodation:
LEVEL 1 – PRIVATE COTTAGE ON MONASTERY GROUNDS
St. Karas Guest Cottage comprising two bedrooms and four king single beds, fully self contained and self-catering, with television but no in-house landline phone or wifi internet.
LEVEL 2 – PRIVATE ANNEX IN MONASTERY BUILDING
St. Macarius Room within the monastery main building with independent access, an ensuited bedroom with a king-size bed and an optional queen-sized air bed, adjoining kitchen for self-catering, and a large living room with television and wifi internet.
LEVEL 3 – ENSUITE ROOM IN MONASTERY BUILDING
St. Mary Room or St. Francis Room within the main monastery building, both ensuited with meals provided by the monastic community and either eaten with the community or in one’s own cell.
LEVEL 4 – ONSITE CAMPING
Camping Onsite with one’s own tent, caravan or camper van etc. Access is provided to the main monastery building’s facilities such as kitchen, laundry and internet.
Arrange a visit by contacting the Guestmaster on +64 (0)21 0222 9345 or by email: guestmaster@seasem.org